Disclaimers can be found on the first chapter or first part… whatever! As for warning, as usual this story has a girlxgirl pairing, so don't like don't read. As for grammar, I do believe that compared to my previous works, I would say my English had improved, but it doesn't mean it's perfect. If you're the kind of reader who can't swallow mistakes, then my works isn't suited for you.
To Major Powell III… I love reading your reviews, makes me want to salute at the end! LOL, I think this is my first time to actually answer a review in my A/N, but I'm doing this because I wanted to apologize… Sir, I don't think I could follow your instruction sir! Ehehehe, I do hope you still enjoy reading this story though.
For the rest of the reviewers, thank you very much!
Cheers… To them who are Dense 2!
The apartment approximately measures sixty square meters. A small living room of about twenty square meters, with large LCD TV could be seen as soon as you enter the main door. The TV lies opposite a small three sitter sofa and on each side lies a small solo couch. A small round center table finishes the living room setting. A five square meter space could be seen after the main door, directly at the back of the large sofa that leads straight to the kitchen and at the right side a door to the bedroom where two double sized beds could be found, along with 2 small cabinets and a small table in between the two beds.
The kitchen is an L shape form with cabinets on top and below. A chest high bar separates the kitchen from the living room that contains ornaments acquired from years of getting gifts. At the end of the L shaped bar is a wall that is the bathroom/comfort room in one, where the door opens on the small space made by the bath and the bedroom wall. A small square foldable table finishes the kitchen ensemble with four foldable chairs.
And this is where Mai and Natsuki could be found. They were sitting on opposite chairs, three pictures were spread on the foldable table and the two women were staring at it… probably wishing for it to disappear.
But no matter how long they've stared, the pictures were there in front of them, showing the two important people in their lives smiling, eyes twinkling, hands holding, embracing…
"It's probably nothing," Natsuki voiced out, breaking the long standing silence in their apartment.
Mai nodded her head, "Yeah, it's nothing. I'm sure they were just being friendly."
Their attention was caught by the opening and closing of the bathroom door, "Are you trying to convince yourself that those…" Chie pointed at the pictures, "... were really nothing but friendly overtures?"
The blue haired ice princess frowned at the tall journalist, "IT IS nothing!"
"Oi Chie," Aoi who was standing behind the chest high bar called out, "Stop that mouth of yours, I don't want you dead and we all doesn't want Natsuki to end up locked in jail!"
"I was just asking!" Chie said, and then shrugged her shoulders before pulling the chair in front of the bar, and in between the two gawking friends. She sighed, "In Natsuki's case, I understand this denial thing since she's the queen of all queens when it comes to denying her feelings, but Mai?" she looked at the red head who have a sad expression on her face, "Aren't you too involve with Tate to worry about who Mikoto dates or not?"
Mai looked at Chie frowning, "I am not too involved with Tate! And I'm not worried about Mikoto dating!"
Aoi raised one brow while Chie grinned, "Oh yeah... I thought you two were dense, I didn't know that you two also share the same 'denial' thing." As usual it was Chie who cannot stop meddling.
The two people in question looked at the black haired woman. "We are not… ,"
"DENIAL." Chie and Aoi interrupted together.
Silence followed.
"There's really nothing to deny." The fiery haired woman softly said. "I just didn't thought…,"
"… that Mikoto might like someone like Shizuru kaichou?" Aoi asked this time. The blank look on Mai's face was all she needed to affirm the red head's answer. "Well, Shizuru is a reliable person, if we don't put into consideration her high propensity for psychotic attacks…,"
"Hey!" Natsuki was on the defensive,
"Okay sorry!" Aoi said raising her palms to the air in surrender, "So Shizuru kaichou doesn't have psychosis but –" she looked at the cobalt haired woman, "let's all agree that she would go to that length for you," She watched Natsuki nod her head in affirmation, "that's not even my point here, Shizuru kaichou is a very reliable person. She is responsible, she is fun, she is beautiful and let's not forget that she has a very gorgeous body that anyone would die for… and Mikoto…,"
"She's a dependent woman." Chie finished and then looked at Mai who was on the verge of disagreeing with the tall woman, "Don't try to counter Mai. We here all know that Mikoto will be lost without you."
"She'd been doing fine on her own for the last year." Mai argued.
"Maybe that's what you think." Aoi suggested. "How long have you been babying Mikoto?"
"I didn't – "
"You did." Three voices echoed in Mai's ears.
"Okay so I did! But that was before…"
"Three years Mai. Three years is such a long time and Mikoto had established a bond with you. As a matter of fact…"
"She was your most important person Mai. You two were the last people standing during the Carnival." This was Natsuki's words.
No reply.
"So what's the point?" Mai asked a bit irate.
"Mikoto always needs someone to look up to, someone who would care, someone who she could depend, and I guess this time, she saw someone and that someone is Shizuru kaichou." Aoi finished.
The red head looked at Aoi's sincere eyes, "Why don't she depend on me again?"
"Does the name Yuuichi Tate rings a bell?" Chie said smiling. "Hey, our Mikoto might be child-like, but when she gets serious, she do things mature woman does. I'm sure she had put into consideration her status in your life, now that you have that Yuuichi-baka."
Normally, Mai would counter with angry retort when Chie calls her boyfriend stupid, but this afternoon was different. The red headed woman just took in the comment.
The two journalist students looked at Natsuki this time. The cobalt haired woman was in a deep contemplation. Then, she raised her head, and her face bore a determined expression. "I just need to finish this final examination then I will go see Shizuru."
The other people in the house nodded their heads.
"Why?" Aoi asked.
"Isn't it obvious? We were friends, so why the hell didn't she come see me?" three pairs of eyebrows rose, "What?" she asked.
"I think you're so full of yourself Kuga!" Mai said shaking her head.
Natsuki frowned at her friend and roommate, "Are you trying to get back at me for my comment earlier?"
"No, I stated a fact and that's it." Mai replied plainly.
"But it's true, we are friends…,"
"The queen of all queens of denial is at it again," Chie said which caused her partner to giggle.
"Wha-"
I'm not going to say anything! I'm not!" Chie said standing, then she scratched her stomach before sliding out of the kitchen. "I think Aoi and I had done our part here, we gave you what we have, so whatever you do about the info is up to you now."
The smaller woman who joined Chie nodded her head, "But know this, if you two need some more snooping around, just give us a ring, but of course it will cause both of you."
No answer
"Come on Chie, we need to get our dissertation paper done ASAP!" Aoi urged the taller woman who nodded her head in understanding. "We'll see you soon ne?" the two guests waved their hands to the two apartment dwellers who returned the wave unenthusiastically.
And then green and purple eyes focused on the photographs once again.
-maiuniverse-
[One week later]
"Hmmm, do I smell sakura?" Shizuru leaned forward before retracting and giving the younger woman a smile. "I didn't peg you for someone to use sakura fragrance for shampoo."
"And I didn't peg you to be using male shampoo." Mikoto grinned at the chestnut haired woman beside her. She met with the older woman in the school park bench they used the first time. Two days after their accidental meeting, Shizuru accepted Himeno Fumi's offer as her assistant head mistress. Her work focuses on the economic growth of the university. The Kyoto-ben happily told Mikoto the good news, and two days after, they decided to share lunch at the said parking bench, which now Mikoto deemed as theirs.
"Hush…," Shizuru said while putting a finger across her lips, "That's supposed to be our secret Mikoto han."
The cat girl shrugged her shoulders, "It's not as if someone is here to hear me." Just to make sure, the black haired woman looked left and right, back and front, "No one here, just us."
"That's good then, I think it will be a big blunder to Fuuka Gakuen if students see their assistant head mistress having lunch date with a senior student, right?" Shizuru said before sipping her cup of tea. "This is a nice tea, did Mai teach you how to make this?"
Mikoto shook her head, "I took Japanese Tea Ceremony Classes as an extracurricular activity." Then she shrugged, "About your earlier point though, I don't mind."
"Hm?" Shizuru was having fun with her tea.
"The one where you say it's a blunder for students to see us having lunch dates. I don't see anything wrong, I'm enjoying our meetings and I'm happy. Is that so wrong?" Mikoto said pouting.
Shizuru looked at the younger woman and her smile widened, "You look so cute pouting Mikoto han, but I agree with you. I don't see anything wrong with what we are doing too, but we don't share the same sentiments with others. That was my point."
Mikoto nodded her head in understanding, "People are cruel a lot of times." Her face darkened and Shizuru watched the transformation. The older woman thought that Mikoto was probably reminiscing hard times during the carnival.
"Mikoto, you know it's this cruelty that defines a person's strength. And if despite all the cruelty in the world, we still live and make time to see friends, smile with them and be happy, then that cruelty must have made us stronger people."
"And some dies from it," the young woman bowed down.
"Tsk," Shizuru lifted Mikoto's face by putting a finger under her chin, then she move Mikoto's face so that their eyes meets. "Stop thinking negative Mikoto han, there's no point dwelling on them, it'll just make you sick!" she jested.
Mikoto smiled and puts her tongue out at Shizuru, "I like it when you call me just Mikoto, no 'han'," she grinned.
"You like that huh?" Shizuru said returning the grin, "Then will you stop calling me kaichou? I'm not a student anymore."
"Deal!"
They both laughed and returned to drinking their tea.
"You know Mikoto, if all the women who tried to get inside my pants were as nice as you, and can make tea like this? I probably would have sex three times a day…" Shizuru looked at Mikoto's face that was now sporting a deep blush, "…with different women." And then a shocked look. She can't help herself so she gave in and laughed out loud.
"Shi…Shizuru!"
The tea suddenly coming out of Mikoto's mouth was the clincher, the laugh increased in intensity and the once reserved woman had to bend over her stomach from pain. "Kami… Mikoto!" she said after regaining some semblance of balance but then, she remembered everything and she have to start all over again.
"MOU!"
-maiuniverse-
With help from Aoi and Chie, Natsuki was able to get the recent address of Shizuru. The chestnut haired woman is renting a two bedroom apartment, five minutes away from Fuuka Gakuen. She also learned that the Fujino woman is currently working as Fumi's assistant at the school. Since final examination for this term was done, she decided to surprise Shizuru and visit her at Fuuka Gakuen. Arriving at the head mistress office, she was met by Fumi and was assisted immediately.
"It's been a long time Natsuki san, how are you doing at the University?" Fumi asked smiling,
The cobalt haired woman returned the smile, "I am doing fine. I think I was born with grease on my hands!" she joked and the two women laughed.
"That's good to hear, and Mai san?"
"She's good too. She was breezing through business administration and still finds time to invent new meals." The ice princess narrated. She was glad the pink haired woman was there, the head mistress at least made her forget about her nervousness.
"Oh, I probably would hire Mai san too after she graduates. Did you know that I just hired Shizuru san recently?" The pink haired woman watched Natsuki nod her head, "She's a god send. You know how poor I am with handling business Natsuki san, even with Sakomizu sensei's help, I still cannot tally my ledger well, and now, three days working here and she will be finished tallying everything!"
Natsuki smiled, proud about how the head mistress praised her Shizuru. She closed her eyes when she realized she actually thought of Shizuru as hers.
"Not that I'm trying to send you off, but is there any reason for this visit Natsuki san?" The pink haired woman asked.
The cobalt haired woman's face reddened, "Ah… well I was actually meaning to visit Shizuru." She said shyly.
"Oh I see, I forgot sometimes that you two are each others' important person, so it is just right that you visit her, but sadly, she's out at the school park, the one at the back where few students come by."
"Oh, the one with the beautiful garden Mashiro san loves so much?"
"Yes that one. She's probably there with Mikoto." The older woman smiled, "You know how Mikoto likes being there too. It's a nostalgic place for her."
For me too, Natsuki thought. "Thank you Fumi san, I'll be on my way then."
"Okay, thank you for passing by here, and tell Shizuru she doesn't have to return at once, you two should enjoy each others' company."
Natsuki nodded her head, bowed down and left.
-maiuniverse-
Natsuki was dreading to go to the park. Two reasons, one is that she has no idea what to tell Shizuru or how to approach the woman with the thoughts in her head. Should she shout at the woman for not coming to see here despite here being at Fuuka for one week now? Should she use her ammo, the puppy dog pout to make the woman know how hurt she was with it? Secondly, she was scared of what she will fin at the park. Fumi san clearly said that she was with Mikoto. Does that mean Chie and Aoi's report before was true?
But the feeling she had before she get to the park was nothing to what she felt as soon as she stepped foot on the park. She found Shizuru and Mikoto sitting at a bench side by side, sipping tea. Still opened bentou boxes at Shizuru and Mikoto's lateral sides, and the two women were apparently happy chatting… or where they just chatting? She needs to investigate so she hid herself well behind a rose bush, not minding if the thorns were scratching her exposed skin.
"No one here, just us." She heard the younger one said. So what were they doing that Mikoto needs to be sure that they were alone? She peek in between the bushes to see with her eyes.
"That's good then, I think it will be a big blunder to Fuuka Gakuen if students see their assistant head mistress having lunch date with a senior student, right?" BLUNDER? OI MIKOTO, I'LL SHOW YOU BLUNDER! And because of this murderous thought, she missed hearing the question posed by Shizuru.
"I took Japanese Tea Ceremony Classes as an extracurricular activity." What the hell does Japanese tea ceremony have to do with this! Mikoto is wooing Shizuru with tea making?! Natsuki's thought were PG 13 but her frown says differently, "About your earlier point though, I don't mind."
"Hm?" Damn it! Can't Shizuru see that Mikoto is flirting with her? Another bad thought entered her head.
"The one where you say it's a blunder for students to see us having lunch dates. I don't see anything wrong, I'm enjoying our meetings and I'm happy. Is that so wrong?" FU… so wrong? You are stealing my woman and you don't find anything wrong with it! Natsuki was seething, she wasn't thinking straight anymore. And damn! Take that damn pout off of your face brat! That was mine! MINE!
"You look so cute pouting Mikoto han..." FUCKKKKK… I'm supposed to be the only one who looks cute when I pout! I'm going to kill you Mikoto! The cobalt haired woman was so angry she pulled from the bushes and started punching air, kicking sands… in other words, Major Natsuki Tantrums. After calming a little she returned to being a peeping tom.
"Tsk," Shizuru lifted Mikoto's face by putting a finger under her chin, then she move Mikoto's face so that their eyes meets. Is she going to kiss Mikoto? Natsuki held her chest. It was hurting and she has no idea why… or she had an idea but it was apparently just now that she recognized it as it is. Her eyes were looking at them but she wasn't seeing, her vision clouded with tears she didn't realize she shed. Not wanting the feeling, she jumped back, not minding if the scratches deepened from forceful extraction.
"Shi…Shizuru!" she heard but she didn't look. She turned around and flees. She can still hear Shizuru's melodius laughter, unusual but it was her… it was her Shizuru.
"MOU!"
-End Part 2-
I'll be finishing this on the next update… perhaps tomorrow?
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